A large, epiphytic vine, the caudex sometimes 12 cm. or even more in diameter, the lower internodes 10 cm. long, the upper ones 2-3 cm. long; cataphylls pale pink, linear-lanceolate; petioles terete, at least above, 40-65 cm. long, almost 2 cm. thick at the base; blades coriaceous when dried, very fleshy when growing, the earliest juvenile ones ovate-oblong and subentire, the later ones shallowly or deeply incised-lobate, the adult blades ovate-cordate 'in outline, 35-55 cm. long and 30-35 cm. wide or often much larger, with 5-10 segments on each side, these lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, often again lobate, acuminate, the middle segments 2-2.5 cm. wide, the basal ones much shorter and coherent; peduncles 4-5 cm. long; spathes about 20 cm. long, green outside or somewhat purplish, whitish and purplish within, cymbiform, the blade equaling or slightly longer than the tube; spadix 12-18 cm. long, the pistillate portion cylindric, the staminate terete-conoid, obtuse, slightly longer than the pistillate portion; pistils pale green, oblong, 2-3 mm. long, 8-to 10-celled, crowned by the rounded stigma, the cells 4-or 5-ovulate; stamens 4-6; berries oblong, 6-7 mm. in diameter.
Usually epiphytic, rarely terrestrial, in wet forests, from sea level up to elevations of 2,000 metres or more.
Home